His Excellency Dr. Jimmy Ben Heymann was born on 18th July, 1955 in Cape Coast, Ghana. He obtained an MB ChB Degree from the University of Ghana Medical School in 1982 and proceeded as a House Officer at the Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra in the same year. He later served as a Resident Medical Officer at Kemisor Hospital Group, Lagos, Nigeria, and then as a Medical Officer at the Link Road Clinic, Accra, in 1986.

Dr. Jimmy Heymann has worked as a promoter or coordinator with Medical Outreach Programme, where he recruited medical personnel for voluntary work, and also co-ordinated logistics for programmes. In 1996, he became the Director of Capital Bakery, and some years later, Director of Seliza Farms. He held these two positions until his appointment as High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa, with concurrent accreditation to Mauritius, Lesotho, Swaziland, Seychelles Madagascar and the Comoros. He is married with three children.